Chapter 356: Pinokangni Chapter 45

Before answering Shajin, Xing decided to first chat with Heitian'e.

"You deceived me?" Xing asked, having opened the door and seen the mountain.

Heitian'e did not deny: "I admit I made a deal with that gentleman, bringing you to his side. But... this place is also safe. He needs you; this is a necessary part of retaking Pinokangni. And I think he has potential and can help me gain unique memories, so I agreed to cooperate."

"In Pinokangni, everyone could lie, of course... including me." Heitian'e's voice softened, "This point I cannot deny, nor will I beg for forgiveness. But, do you remember? I also said... 'I believe in your potential,' and this sentence is absolutely without falsehood."

"Do you think Shajin is still trustworthy?" Xing continued to ask.

"My opinion might surprise you. In my view, he is a trustworthy person, not for any other reason, only because he is an excellent merchant. In this vast universe, no one values honesty and contracts more than merchants."

"But you should also be careful, especially when signing contracts with them, pay more attention. Outside the contract, they won't consider your rights... to maximize their own interests, they can resort to any means."

——

Teyvat.

Inside the tea room of Jade Pavilion, tea fragrance wafted.

Ningguang lightly rested her fingertips on the pipe, and after hearing Heitian'e's warning to Xing, she couldn't help but chuckle: "I thought the people of Flowing Light Remembrance Hall didn't understand the company much, but it seems she not only understands the company, she understands merchants even better."

"You also think Shajin is trustworthy?" Keqing set down her teacup, her tone slightly displeased: "That guy, I feel he's always treating others as pawns."

"Pawns? Perhaps, but a player can only be honest toward their pawns." Ningguang exhaled a wisp of thin smoke: "Think carefully—since entering Pinokangni, how many forces has Xing encountered? Company, Flowing Light Remembrance Hall, Sea-roaming Rangers, Masked Fools, family… and also a Flowing Light with unknown background."

"Among these forces, it seems only the company represented by Shajin can be honest with Xing. Although Shajin appears forceful, he stated his purpose from the start: to retrieve something for the company in Pinokangni. And the compensation for working with him was also made clear."

Keqing was stunned. After thinking carefully…… it indeed seems as Ningguang said, in this Pinokangni chessboard, there are far too many players, but only a few pawns.

Everyone had their own motives, harboring ulterior thoughts, which instead made Shajin appear upright and aboveboard.

Ningguang narrowed her eyes: "But if Huangquan truly is an emissary, she undoubtedly has the ability to overturn the table more than Xing. If we could win her over to the Pioneering side, what card would the family need to play to counter her?"

——

"Who do you think is the mastermind behind the scenes?"

Heitian'e spoke bluntly: "I still believe Miss Liuying's matter... as we speculated, is more related to the Star Core Hunters. But you also heard, Shajin accused that wanderer."

"Although I don't know why he made that judgment, he has the company's intelligence network, so his view is worth discussing. Moreover, I also think Miss Huangquan is hiding something... no, I should say, she is hiding everything."

"This is an unexpected gain from a previous encounter. Regarding the Extinction Gang... I can also confirm what Shajin said is true. Therefore, in this golden banquet... she is the dancer I pay the most attention to."

Heitian'e hopes Xing can trust Shajin, or trust her more, to see the facts Shajin speaks of. This could lead them to deeper secrets behind Pinokangni.

Heitian'e promises to protect Xing, then accompany her in the form of a meme, until Xing obtains more information from Shajin, then send her back to her companions.

After careful consideration, Xing decided to accept Shajin's suggestion. Shajin was very satisfied with her choice, but at the same time he also hoped Xing would not disappoint him.

"Come this way—please."

Shajin led Xing to a nearby small room; on the corridor, Shajin suddenly said: "Hey, right, I seem to have said something after that... what was it?"

The two stopped before a door.

"We've arrived, just behind this door. Hold your breath and wait——"

Xing slowly pushed open the door, with a heavy "creak——", boundless darkness surged like a tide. She instinctively tensed her shoulders, but behind her came Shajin's low, amused whisper.

"Oh, I finally remembered… friend! After that, we played a fun game." Shajin said leisurely, "Look, right now, it's just like back then… isn't it?"

The light in the room spread like ripples, and Shajin gently brushed aside the memory bubble before his eyes.

"Look, friend. The game has already begun." Shajin's voice was very soft, as soft as a gambler's sigh on the lips at the final spin of the roulette wheel, "Let's make a deal, you cannot refuse."

Upon reaching the Dream-Entering Pool, Xing's body suddenly stiffened.

Her pupils trembled violently, like a candle flame torn by a wild wind.

Zhigengniao lay in pain in the Dream-Entering Pool, her long hair spreading like withered waterweeds. The vicious wound on her chest emitted a strange purple aura, as if someone had forcibly torn open a slit in the most perfect brocade.

"There is no reason... nor any leeway."

——

Sword Art Online.

"How could it be... another one died!"

Asuna covered her mouth, her chestnut hair swaying slightly with her trembling shoulders. She instinctively grabbed Kirito's sleeve, her fingertips whitening from gripping.

Kirito frowned, closed his eyes, and tried to recall fragments about Zhigengniao—but unlike Liuying, who still had some broken clues to speculate on, this Miss Zhigengniao...

"Could she also have been killed by a meme? Then why would Zhigengniao appear in the primordial dream?"

There are too many doubts…… Liuying came to the primordial dream, not wanting to leave, which is understandable since her goal is the clockmaker's inheritance; could the world-renowned Zhigengniao also have come for the inheritance?

The chilly evening wind beat against the window lattice, adding a bit of cold to the night. Asuna pulled the blanket tighter: "Mr. Xingqiri's sister was killed; he certainly won't stand by. Could someone be provoking him by killing his sister on purpose? Or perhaps... someone wants to stop the Harmony Grand Festival?"

"I cannot rule out these possibilities." Kirito inhaled a breath of cold air, "But the key is, if it's confirmed that Zhigengniao was killed by a meme, that amounts to hanging a sword over everyone's heads in Pinokangni."

"Even the big-star Zhigengniao would die... once this news spreads, the family is utterly finished."